Eclipse froze as he felt Valeria's grip tighten over his mouth, her determined eyes fixed on him. For a split second, a thought flashed through his mind: Is she here to assassinate me?
He tensed, his exhaustion making him almost light-headed.
He could barely stand, let alone fight. Is this really it? After everything, I'm going to die here because of her?
"I'm sorry, Eclipse, but I can't let you go back yet," Valeria said, her voice firm.
I'm still alive...
He raised an eyebrow and pointed toward her hand, silently asking her to let go.
She shook her head, eyes narrowing. "No way. If I let go, you'll just say the name and vanish, leaving me stuck in this forest! You're my only ticket to the Academy."
And so, they stood in a tense standoff, neither moving as the silence stretched around them.
Swish...
Somewhere in the distance, a bird squawked, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
Swish...
The wind picked up, carrying their tension with it, but neither moved an inch.
Swish...
Uh..... if this goes on, we'll be standing here until nightfall.
And Valeria knew that too.
Finally, she said something. "I, I have a proposal: I let go, and you don't just… disappear immediately. Deal?"
Eclipse gave a slow, exasperated nod.
Carefully, she began to release her grip, her hand hovering close, ready to clamp down again if he so much as blinked suspiciously.
"So," he muttered, once his mouth was free, "you want me to help you get to the Academy?"
"Yes! I… I have to," she replied, voice almost pleading.
"Spare me the details." Eclipse raised his pack of herbs. "I can only bring three items back to the Academy, and I need all three to pass the trial perfectly. So, what's in it for me if I take you?"
Seeing that he was at least willing to negotiate, Valeria finally dropped her hand.
She took a moment to study him, catching her breath.
Eclipse sighed, giving her a quick, assessing look.
She was slight but sturdy, her clothes torn from the chase through the forest, her bright eyes glimmering with determination even in defeat.
She straightened, trying to look more composed.
"Don't you remember?" she asked, her expression brightening. "You used my potion to beat that slime. Isn't that worth something?"
Eclipse arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk forming on his lips. "And I could've easily left you there afterward, couldn't I?"
"W-Well…." Valeria stammered, a nervous gulp audible in her voice.
She looked around, as if hoping the trees would give her a clever reply.
Finally, she pointed to herself. "How about… you could have me?"
"As a servant?" he asked dryly.
"Y, yeah, that could work too?"
"No, I already have one, and she's more than sufficient."
Valeria's eyes widened. "Really? Is she actually… good at her job?"
Eclipse's gaze sharpened slightly.
She waved a hand dismissively, then quickly changed the subject.
"And besides," Eclipse said, "Isn't that more beneficial for you anyway? You're not exactly a welcomed guest at the Academy. Being my attendants will be probably make anything you're planning there, easier."
Valeria gulped.
Eclipse's expression stayed flat.
Valeria bit her lip, staring at the ground.
Just as she opened her mouth to admit defeat, Eclipse surprised her.
Without a word, he took one of the herbs from his pack, the precious Bloodfern, and tossed it to the ground.
Valeria blinked in shock. "Why did you—?"
He gave a look at her, "Though you can't find it, I think you do have something of value to offer me."
Her expression brightened with hope. "Really?" She thought and looked around for a while then blushed when she found her body, "D, do you mean..."
"Information."
The potion, he thought. She might know more about it.
If not of my headaches, I won't accept her easily but bringing her to the academy and extract information later when I am all right is probably the best idea now.
"Now hold on."
She blinked, flustered. "Hold on to you? Like… hug you?"
"Just hold my sleeve or something."
"Oh."
Valeria grasped the edge of his sleeve, her cheeks pink as she tried to ignore her nerves.
Eclipse looked away, a faint smirk on his lips, "When we arrive, you can act as my servant for a while. Don't interfere in my business, and don't attract unnecessary attention. If you have a question, go ask my Silva, my maid."
"Eh? Can't I go to you instead?"
"You probably won't be able to talk to me for a while."
"Why?"
He ignored it.
Valeria had a hundred questions swirling in her head, but seeing the weariness etched on Eclipse's face, she swallowed them.
He looked like he was about to collapse.
"Understood," she murmured.
He steadied himself, preparing for the teleportation, then finally called out the headmistress's name.
In an instant, a soft, radiant blue glow began to swirl around them.
Valeria's fingers tightened instinctively, gripping his sleeve as the light intensified.
She felt a strange sensation, as if being lifted from her feet, and the surrounding forest faded, replaced by a warm, weightless feeling.
The last thing she saw was Eclipse's face, a mixture of exhaustion and exasperation, before they both disappeared, leaving the forest silent once more.
On the ground were the herbs he had left.
The Bloodfern... and Shadowbloom.
And Eclipse didn't know about this.